REPORT

Ex-Servicemen Cell Report

Suspending all other activities, the Ex-Servicemen Cell involved itself completely in the election campaign in Uttaranchal, Punjab, UP and the Jammu & Kashmir by-election.

The Chairman, Lt. Gen. M.M. Lakhera accompanied by office-bearers of Uttaranchal PCC Ex-Servicemen Cell addressed meetings in 34 constituencies in the districts of Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Lohaghat, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar. He also appeared on Doordarshan for reading the party election manifesto which was telecast on February 4. An appeal by Gen. Lakhera and Capt. Praveen Davar, Secretary, AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell, highlighting the corruption in Defence Ministry, of which 50,000 copies were distributed in the State, had a good impact amongst the voters, especially Ex-Servicemen.

In Punjab, Capt. Davar concentrated in BJP held constituencies and addressed meetings in Ludhiana, Jallandhar and Hoshiarpur. He was also given charge of coordinating Govinda’s programme in Ludhiana. The Chairman, PPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell, Col. Zorawar Singh visited Patiala, Nabha, Fatehgarh Sahib, Barnala, Sirhind, Batala, Jallandhar, Adampur, Mukerian, Anandpur Sahib and Ropar to mobilise the support of Ex-Servicemen. His efforts were lauded by the PCC President, Capt. Amrinder Singh and other senior Congress leaders of Punjab. Tehelka, coffin scandal and corruption of Badal government were the focus of the Ex-Servicemen attack.

Capt. Davar, who was given charge of coordinating the meetings of Obaidullah Khan Azmi in Western U.P, addressed joint meetings in minority dominated areas of Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Hapur, Moradabad and Muzaffarnagar. Capt. Davar was also given charge as AICC Observer for hon’ble Congress President’s rally in Gyanpur (Distt. Mirzapur) on February 16. The Chairman UPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell, Col. Bharat Singh devoted full time in Ghorakpur, Ballia and Lucknow constituencies.

A 4-member team of Ex-Servicemen comprising Lt. Gen. M.M. Lakhera, Capt. Praveen Davar, Lt. Col. P.M. Dubey and Major Verma were sent to Rajouri and Poonch following reports from the J&K PCC that the Army was involved in helping the National Conference Government with rigging.

The team met a large number of Congress workers at Jammu, Akhnoor, Sunderbani and Naushera. They also met the Corps Commander at Nagarota and Brigade Commanders at Rajouri and Naushera and many senior Army officers. It came to the conclusion that it was not the Army but the State official machinery that was involved in rigging, most of which could have taken place in transportation and counting. The Ex-Servicemen Cell is now making programmes for States going to polls at the end of the year and in the beginning of 2003.

- Praveen Davar

 

Mahila Congress Report

All through January and February, 2002, the Mahila Congress has been very busy with electioneering work. As per the AIMC president, Mrs. Chandresh Kumari’s instructions Mahila Congress activists from all over India concentrated on the four election-going states as well as all the by-election constituencies. In Punjab and UP, where the state MC presidents were contesting elections, state Mahila Congress Campaign Committee incharges were appointed. The AIMC pesident took out a massive pad-yatra in Lucknow on the last campaigning day.

Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom day (January 30) and the Republic Day (January 26) were celebrated by all the Mahila Congress centres through suitable activities. In Katni (M.P), the Mahila Congress held a musical evening with national songs to celebrate the Republic Day.

The Mahila Congress in Jharkhand demonstrated in front of the Deputy Police Commissioner’s office after taking out a procession in Ranchi, demanding the taking back of criminal charges levelled against demonstrating Yuva-Congress activists. It also participated in Ranchi-bandh with the JPYC, against the State government’s misrule, on January 10th. In Dumka on February 4th, the Mahila Congress distributed 100 blankets to women flood-victims.

All over India, Mahila Congress activists reacted strongly to the Prime Minister calling Mrs. Sonia Gandhi a foreigner, burning his effigy at various places. In Ranchi, this effigy was burnt in front of the Vidhan Sabha.

The Jharkhand Mahila Congress has taken up the fight against the KVS decision to close down a Kendriya Vidyalaya (11th in-a-row), with demonstrations in front of the Vidhan Sabha, etc. It also participated in a hunger strike of the JRBPP Shikshak Sangh for a day. The Tripura MC took out a pad-yatra from Agartala to Sabroom. Mahila Congress activists are continuously monitoring the situation after the Godhra incident, organising meetings, etc, to maintain communal harmony.

The Mahila Congress has lost a very valuable member in Mrs. Bhupender Mallick’s demise. We offer our heartfelt condolences to, and are sharing the pain of the bereaved family.

- Dr. Jaya Shukla

 

UP Leaders Court Arrest

The AICC Chief Spokesperson, Mr. Jaipal Reddy, issued on March 6, 2002 the following statement :

"Senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders today courted arrest against the UP administration’s decision not to allow them to visit the riot-affected areas of Aligarh. The Congress leaders demanded a judicial probe into the riots and immediate action against the perpetrators of the riots.

Among those arrested were UPCC president, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Mr. Pramod Tiwari, Mr. Wasim Ahmed, UPCC general secretary, Mr. Naseeb Pathan and newly-elected Congress MLA from Aligarh, Mr. Vivek Bansal.